The ultimate tug-of-war
For over 120 years, one of the nation’s longest-running college traditions has tested the endurance, strength, and unity of its participants. This three-hour tug-of-war isn’t just a competition—it’s a battle. On a crisp fall day, freshman and sophomore teams take their places, gripping the same rope, each side determined to claim it as their own.
How it works:
Each team consists of up to 18 pullers, lying low in the pit, and an equal number of moralers, who stand above, shouting commands and keeping their teammates locked in sync. Pullers wait for the moraler’s signal, then dig in and heave with everything they have—muscles shaking, breath quickening, the rope shifting back and forth in an unrelenting test of strength and willpower. The struggle plays out in inches, neither side willing to yield. And then, just like that, it’s over. Three hours—sometimes less—decides the winner, but the camaraderie, the challenge, and the fight stay with them for a lifetime.
